“They’re filing for a temporary restraining order to stop the federal government from taking action against patients in the state of California who are in compliance with state law,” Kumin said. “This is based on the federal government’s own promise to a federal court judge in 2009 that they would not take action against patients in compliance with state law.”

The medical marijuana dispensaries are facing a November 12 deadline to close their doors.

If the courts don’t step in to stop it, the dispensaries will face federal criminal prosecution if they don’t cease operations by that deadline.

Charlie Pappas, chairman of the Divinity Tree Patients Wellness Cooperative in the Tenderloin, which received a notice to shutdown, said he’s not sure why this move came down so suddenly.